PRCA hits out against statutory press regulation proposed by Leveson

The PRCA has hit out against Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations that press regulation must be enforced by law.

In a formal statement reacting to the findings of the report, PRCA director Francis Ingham said: ‘Statutory underpinning to deal with a handful of recalcitrant journalists in an industry which broadly functions well would be the proverbial sledge hammer to crack a nut.’

Ingham’s words echo those of the CIPR, which has also rejected such regulation.

They come amid favoured efforts among senior newspaper executives to present proposals for their own form of regulation, a concept backed by Prime Minister David Cameron.

However, Cameron’s stance has been opposed by many, including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour, which this week released its own proposals around press regulation.

Ingham emphasised the importance of proposals around a statutory register of lobbyists in discerning where pursuit of news could be distinguished from lobbying by media executives, but was critical of the lack of attention given to social media in the report.

‘We believe that Leveson has missed the elephant in the room: social media is a minefield and governance needs to catch up,’ he added.

In a statement released shortly after the Leveson Report, the CIPR encouraged 'the press to take the opportunity to build a strong, innovative and robust independent regime of self-regulation.'